"To me, what's most alarming is the wages and the wage differential. The inequality that's clearly happening," Delavega said.

The data shows that African Americans in Memphis have a median annual income $20,000 less than whites.

"When we are recruiting companies to come here and then providing incentives for them to be here, I think that we need to require or incentivize more companies that pay much more than a living wage," council member Martavius Jones said.

Council members are also exploring ways to add to Memphis' MPLOY youth summer job program.

The six-week program currently puts 1,250 teens to work--though thousands more apply.

Council member Ed Ford Jr. wants the number of youth hired to hit 2,000 in the next three years. He said that would be a step in the right direction when it comes to reducing the cycle of poverty.

"We can change that. It may take 5 years, it may take 10 years, it may take one generation, but I say let's start doing the work now," Ford said.

Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission will be having a joint meeting in a few weeks to discuss the numbers and work together to determine how the governments can improve the problem.